Article-feeding mechanism



Patented May 20, 1947 ARTICLE-FEEDING MECHANISM Leroy L. Saliisberg, South Orange, N. J assignor to Ivers-Lee Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application October 25, 1944, Serial No. 560,306

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates in a general way to a mechanism for automatically feeding small articles, such as tablets, pills, buttons and somewhat similar articles in succession from a source of supply, such as a hopper, to a predetermined position, from which they are passed into packages constructed to receive them.

It is one of the objects of my present invention to provide a new and improved structure for passing the articles to be packaged from the source of supply, such as a hopper, to the packages receiving them.

Another object of my invention is to provide an article-feeding mechanism in which the movable member carries only a definite number of articles to be packaged for each cycle of operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved discharge portion of the article-feeding mechanism.

Another object of my invention is to provide an article-feeding mechanism which is equipped with manually operable means for shifting certain of the movable parts for cleaning purposes, as well as to permit passage of the articles to a position whereby when the apparatus is connected to the automatic control lever, the first cycle of the automatic operation will load the package.

Other and further objects will be discerned from a study of the following specification taken in connection with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front plan view of my new and improved mechanism. I

Figure 2 is a view of Figure 1. looking from left to right of that portion of Figure 1 involving my improvements.

Figure 3 is arear view of the centrally disposed portion of Figure 1 to which my improvements relate.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view of the lower portion of Figure 4, but with the movable parts in their second fully operated position.

Figure 6 is a view looking in the direction of 6-6 of Figure 3, with the hand lever in the position shown in dotted lines of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a view of the lower portion of the structure shown in Figure 3, but looking from the front as in Figure 1, with certain parts comprising the discharging plunger removed.

Figure 8 is a view on the line 88 of Figure 7.

In the various views, wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts, I is a frame member having a mounting flange 2 adapted to be fastened to a support 3 as by a screw stud 4. To the frame member I, is fastened a chute 5 in any suitable manner. At the bottom, a bracket 6 is fastened to the frame member I as by screws 1. The bracket 6 has an offset arm 8 fastened to the chute 5 by a screw 9. At the top, the chute 5 is held to the frame I by aplurality of screws l0, two of which are shown in Figure 3. The chute 5 has a plurality of channels I l, four being used in the construction shown, and overlying these channels and fastened to the chute 5 as by a plurality of screws I2, is a plate l3. The plate l3 has a plurality of narrow longitudinal openings l4 over the channels, two being shown over each channel. These openings serve'to show the passage of the articles through the channels.

Intercepting each of the channels I l, is a pin l 5 passing through a hole in the plate l3 closely adjacent its associated opening It. The pins l5 are fixed to a rigid trip it which is carried on two oppositely disposed screw studs I! that are slidably disposed in clearance holes through the plate l3 and the side walls 18 of the chute 5.

Positioned between the headof ea h of the screws l1 and the chute 5, is a spring IS. The springs l9. acting against the heads of the screws l1, resiliently hold the strip IS in place so that the strip IS, with the pins l5, will fo low the movements of the other parts to be described.

Fastened to the back of the frame I, as by screws M, is a support member 2| having a pair of spaced lugs 22 and 23, between which is pivoted on a horzontal axis as by a pin 24 a member 25, on which is fastened as by rivets or screws 26 the upper end of a stiff arm 21 that extends downwardly in back of the chute 5. The lower end of the arm is curvedv slightly inwardly and has fastened thereto as by screws 28 a shifting block 29, the purpose of which will be later pointed out. The block 29 has a plurality of transversely positioned channels 30 which are in alignment with and substantially of the same character in cross-section as the channels II in the chute 5. With this construction, the arm 21 and block 29 are substantially balanced by gravity.

To the block 29, is fastened as by screws 3! a plate 32. The plate 32 has openings 33 substantially the same in width as the openings l4 in the plate l3. The plate 32 also has projections 14 and 15 at its opposite ends which are adapted to engage stop members 16 and TI fastened to the opposite sides of the chute 5.

Fastened to the back of the arm 21, as by screws or rivets 34; is a cross-bar 35 having outwardly turned ends 36 which terminate in bent-over projections 31. The projections 31 have oppositely disposed notches therein to receive one end of a spring 35, while the opposite end of this spring is hooked to a stud 39 fastened to the frame I. This same stud 39 acts as a pivot for a lever 40 having one end bent outwardly away from the frame I and terminating in a circularly shaped surface 4| that is adapted to engage the cross-bar 35 approximately at 42 where one of its ends 36 is bent utwardly. The operation of the lever 40 acts, through the cross-bar 35, to move the arm 21 and associated parts from one to the other of the two positions shown in Figures 4 and 5. When in the position more clearly shown in Figure 3, the lever 40 passes over a cut-away portion of the bracket 6 into engagement with a stop surface 43 on the bracket 6. When the lever 46 is moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, the bent end, having the surface 4|, hits against one-edge of the oifset arm 8 of the bracket 6.

The cross-bar 35 carries two adjustably mounted studs 44 and 45 having rounded ends which are adapted to engage earns 46 and 41 comprising parts of a plunger unit, The cams 46 and 41 are fastened by screws 48 to a bar '49. The bar 49 is preferably seated in recesses in the cams 45 and 41 so as to make a very rigid connection between these parts. Fastened to the bar 49, as by rivets 50, is a member having a plurality of fingers 52, four being shown, disposed in spaced relation for cooperation with depositing channels 53 to which reference will -be presently made.

The member 5| has a projection 54 with a hole therein to receive a stud 55 which carries a bushing 56 that supports one end of a link 51, the opposite end of which is supported on-a stud 58 fastened to the link 5'! by a screw 59. The stud 58 preferably terminates in and is adapted to be inserted through a slot 50 into a seat in the member 5|. Intermediate the link 51 and the bushing 56, is an actuating lever 6|, and between the link 51 and the stud 58, is an actuating lever '62. The actuating levers El and 62 extend to control members forming parts of the entire packaging machine such as illustrated in my Patent No. 2,083,617, issued June 15, 1937, and since these levers form no part of my present improvements, they need not be described further herein.

At the bottom of the frame I, is fastened a triangularly shaped block 63 having channels 53 therein in alignment with the channels 30 in the shifting block 29. The block 63 is held to the frame I by screws 64 and 65 which also assist the screws 66 and 61 for holding a cover plate 68 in-position on the frame I and over the channels 53.

Theplate 68 has internally positioned transverse channels 69 therein as defined by the ribs '10 which come into close proximity with the lower portions of ribs II which define the channels 53. Positioned within the channels 53, are spring'fingers 12 which are fastened by riveting or spotwelding to a U-shapedclip 13 that is adapted to be pushed over the upper edge of the cover "plate 68. The free ends of the springs 12 are bent inwardly away from the plate 68 so as to stop the pellets or equivalent when they are passed into the channels 53 in a manner to be presently described.

The preceding description covers the construction of my improved packaging mechanism intended to be claimed herein, but in passing it may be mentioned that Figure 1 shows, at the top, a hopper H and means for feeding the pellets or articles into the chute 5, while at the bottom of Figures 1 and 2 is shown the package-forming and sealing apparatus generally referred to as P, which is shown and described in my pending application Serial No. 468,762, filed December 12, 1942, and since the hopper and associated feeding apparatus and the package-forming and sealing apparatus form no part of my present invention, further description thereof seems to be unnecessary herein.

From what has been said, the operation of the structure to be claimed herein will be readily understood. When it is desired to start the apparatus automatically, the same may be preloaded, so to speak, and when the apparatus is preloaded the operations are as follows:

Assuming that the articles have been fed from the hopper into the channels of the chute, and the lever is in what may be termed normal position-in which case the channels of the chute are filled and rest against the shifting block 29-the lever 40 is thrown to the dotted position of Figure 3, which moves the shifting block 29 from the position of Figure 4 to that of Figure 5, whereby the articles that were in the channels U will move into the channels 30, and the pins l5 will intercept another set of articles suflicient in number to'fill the channels 30 in the block 29 on another part of the cycle of operations.

Now, throwing thelever 4|] back to the full-line position of Figure 3; the block 29 is moved so that its channels 30 will be in alignment with the channels 53 in the frame block 63, and the articles in the block 29 will move into the frame block channels 53. .At the same time, the pins l5 will be in retracted position and the articles in the chute channels I will move downwardly onto the block 29. At this point in the cycle of operations, the apparatus may be considered loaded, ready to discharge the articles from the frame block 63 into a package formed and ready to receive them by the packaging apparatus P.

With the feeding apparatu in this position, the machine for operating the levers 6| and 62 is set into movement and the cycle of operations is repeated as described, withthe exception that the plunger unit, automatically operated, is operated by the levers 6| and 62 moving the member 5| with the fingers 52 downwardly into the channels 53 of the frame block 63, thereby forcing the articles out by the resilient springs I2. At the same time, the cams 46 and 41 engage their respective studs 44 and 45 which push the cross-bar 35 backwardly, together with its arm and associated shifting block. Then, after the articles are passed from the channels I into the channels 30 of the shifting block, the movement of the cams 46 and 41 is such as to allow the springs 38 to return the arm and shifting block, as well as the strip IS with its pins l5, under the influence of the springs l9, to the normal position shown in Figure 4.

' the frame block 53.

It may be mentioned in passing that since the hand lever 4|] moves the shifting block 29 back and forth, it also serves the purpose ofmoving the shifting block 29 so that the channels 53 many be reached for cleaning purposes by first removing the plunger unit.

From what has been said, it will be clear that I have provided a relatively simple apparatus for packaging a large quantity of articles in a short space of time, thereby greatly reducing th cost of the packaging operation.

If desired, the pins l5 may b omitted. They are provided primarily to hold the articles out of contact with the top of the shifting block during the rearward movement of the block, which is desirable to prevent chipping or abrasion of relatively fragile articles. Also, if desired, the springs 12 may be omitted; they are provided primarily to line up the articles before the latter are deposited in the package. If said springs are not used, then the plunger fingers 52 may be dis- Densed with. a

What I claim is:

1. Article-feeding mechanism including a frame, a chute fastened to and extending longitudinally of the frame and having channels therein for conveying articles from a source of supply to the opposite end of the chute, and a plate at least partially covering the channels to hold the articles therein as they pas down the chute channels, an arm having a pivotal mountingn at the end of the frame adjacent said source of supply and extending longitudinally of and adjacent the chute, a block carried on the free end of the arm and provided with channels corresponding in number and shape to the channels in the chute, spring-actuated means for normally holding said block in idle position and out of alignment with said chute channels, a plate over said arm block channels, a block carried by the frame and having depositing channels normally in operative alignment with the channels in the arm block, a cover for said frame block, resilient fingers carried by the lastsmentioned cover and having their free ends positioned in said depositing channels fOr stopping the passage of the articles positioned in their respective channels under their combined weight and means for moving, during one part of its cycle of operation, said arm with its block in a direction to bring its channels into alignment with the channels in the chute, whereby articles will move by gravity from the chute channels into the arm block channels, said means also including fingers for simultaneously moving downwardly in the depositing channels to push the articles therein out into a container, said means also acting, during another part of its operative cycle, to allow the said arm and its block to return by said spring means to normal position and also withdrawing said fingers from the depositing channels, ready for another cycleof operation.

2. Article-feeding mechanism as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said springactuated means comprises a bar fastened to and extending crosswise of said pivoted arm adjacent said arm block and having formed ends to each of which one end of a spring i attached, while the opposite end of said spring is attached to the frame, said cross-bar carrying a pair of adjustable studs, the studs being spaced to extend one on each side of the chute and normally a distance beyond the chute cover for cooperation with said moving means.

3. Article-feeding mechanism as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said springactuated means comprises a bar fastened to and extending crosswise of said pivoted arm adjacent said arm block and having formed ends to each of which one end of a spring is attached, while the opposite end of said spring is attached to the frame, said cross-bar carrying a pair of adjustable studs, the studs being spaced to extend one on each side of the chute and normally a distance beyond the chut cover for cooperation with said moving means, and further characterized in that said moving means includes a pair of cams positioned, one over the end of each stud, with means for moving the cams to cause them to act on said studs to move the cross-bar, arm and shifting block carried by the arm for the purpose described.

4. Article-feeding mechanism as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said sprin actuated means comprises a bar fastened to and extending crosswise of said pivoted arm adjacent said arm block and having formed ends to each of which one end of a spring is attached, while the opposite end of said spring is attached to the frame, said cross-bar carrying a pair of adjustable studs, the studs being spaced to extend one on each side'of the chute and normally a distance beyond the chute cover for cooperation with said moving means, and further characterized in that said moving means includes a plunger unit having a pair of spaced cams connected by a rigid bar which has a member fastened thereto carrying said downwardly extending fingers, the cams being positioned over said studs for the purpose described, the said member of the plunger unit being provided with means for the attachment of operating levers thereto.

5. Article-feeding mechanism as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said springactuated means comprises a bar fastened to and extending crosswise of said pivoted arm adjacent said arm block and having formed ends to each of which one end of a spring is attached, while the opposite end of said spring is attached to the frame, said cross-bar carrying a pair of adjustable studs, the studs being spaced to extend one on each side of the chute and normally a distance beyond the chute cover for cooperation with said moving means, and further characterized in that the chute has a cross-strip carrying spaced pins, one for each channel, which are adapted to intercept the chute-channels, the strip being carried at its opposite ends on springmounted screw studs located in the chute at a distance from its lower end, but movable through clearance holes in the chute, whereby said pins will cross, at the proper time in the cycle of operations, their respective channels so as to intercept a number of articles sufficient to fill the cooperative channels in the arm block, the said screw studs having heads that are engaged by the arm cross-bar for moving the pins out of the chute channels during a part of the cycle of operations, while the springs associated with the screws will move the strip with its pins into intercepting position when said arm and its crossbar are moved away from the chute.

6. Article-feeding mechanism as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said resilient fingers are carried by a clip which is adapted to be removably mounted over the edge of the frame block cover, while the cover itself has channels therein to receive and position the said resilient fingers in the frame block channels.

7. The combination of a unitary structure for feeding articles of the type described herein from a hopper containing the articles to be packaged to a packaging mechanism, and means for operating it, said unitary structure comprising a frame with means for mounting it for cooperation with the hopper and a packaging mechanism, a chute extending downwardly from the hopper end of the frame and having a plurality of passages for the articles extending from a hopper throughout the length of the chute, an elongated arm mounted near the hopper end of the structure so as to have a swinging movement, a shifting block carried by the free end of the arm closely adjacent the lower end of the chute, means positioned near the lower end of the chute for moving across the chute passages to intercept a predetermined number of articles in the passages, said shifting block having passages therein for the articles in longitudinal alignment with the passages in the chute, means for normally holding the shifting block so its passages are offset laterally from the passages in the chute and for normally holding the intercepting means in non-intercepting position, a fixed block carried by the lower end of the frame and having passages normally in operative alignment with the passages in the shifting block when it is in normal position, resilient members having free ends positioned in the passages of the frame block so as to temporarily stop the movement of the articles therethrough as they are passed thereinto; said operating means including parts for initially moving the shifting block and intercepting means toa position where the shifting block passages are filled with articles that are intercepted, said means also including parts which simultaneously act with the movement of the shifting block to push the articles from the passages in the frame block to the packaging mechanism, and additional means comprising part of the unitary structure for returning the shifting block and intercepting means to normal position on the return movement of said initially moving meanswhich acts to withdraw said push-parts from the passages in the frame block.

8. A combination for automatically feeding articles from a hopper to a packaging mechanism as set forth in claim 7, further defined in that the said means for intially moving the shifting block and associated parts, as well as those parts which push the articles from the passages in the frame block, comprises a plunger unit having a pair of spaced cams for acting on members carried by said arm of the unitary structure, and also having a member with the parts for pushing the articles from the passages in the frame block, said last-mentioned member having means for attaching operating levers thereto.

9. A combination for automatically feeding articles from a hopper to a packaging mechanism as set forth in claim 7, further defined in that the said means for intially moving all of the movable parts used in the automatic operation of the unitary structure comprises a unit plunger consisting of a pair of spaced cams for acting on members carried by the arm of said structure, and a member having extending fingers forming the parts which push the articles out of the passages in the frame block of the unitary structure, the plunger having means for attaching operating levers thereto.

10. An articlefeeding structure for cooperation with a packaging machine for packaging the articles, comprising a frame, a chute supported by the frame and having at least one approximately vertical longitudinal channel for receiving the articles at the top of the frame from a source of supply, a block permanently fixed to the lower end of the frame and having channels corresponding in number to those in the chute and extending in the same general direction, a block movably positioned between the fixed block and the lower end of the chute and having channels the same in number as those in the chute and fixed block, and means for shifting the movable block so it will pick up a predetermined number of articles from the chute and then shifting said block so its channels will be in alignment with the corresponding channels in the fixed block, whereby the articles in the movable block will fall into the channels in the fixed block for subsequent discharge into a package, said movable block being carried on the lower end of a vertical arm which is mounted at its upper and above said block to swing on a horizontal axis, the arm having means adapted to be acted on by means operatedby the packaging machine.

11. The machine as defined in claim 10 with the addition of means carried by the chute for intercepting a predetermined number of the articles in each channel of the chute for transmittal to the movable block at a stated time in its movement, said intercepting means including a strip extending transversely across the chute but normally spaced therefrom and being resiliently carried thereby so it will move toward the chute when said arm is pushed away from the chute, but will be moved away from the chute on the return movement of the arm, said strip having pins, one for each chute channel, which intercept a predetermined number of articles in the channels for transmittal to the block carried on the arm at the right time in the cycle of operations.

LEROY L. SALFISBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,709,189 Radtke Apr. 16, 1929 2311.251 Rees et a1 Feb. 16, 1943 443,254 Gilliland Dec. 23, 1890 469,891 Arnold Mar. 1, 1892 1,817,224 Ajouelo Aug. 4, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 212,801 Great Britain Mar. 21, 1924 

